DUI - THERE'S NO TREAT WITH THIS TRICK

(October 18, 2018) - Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association, (PA DUI Assoc.) reminds all residents of the Commonwealth that Halloween is just around the corner. Halloween means parties, parades, trick or treat and the incredible beauty of Pennsylvania in late fall. It also means children on the streets along with increased pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. The PA DUI Association urges all motorists to drive sober or arrange for alternate transportation to ensure a safe holiday for everybody.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash statistics for 2016 reveal there were 10,497 fatal crashes involving alcohol impairment nationwide - 1 alcohol impaired fatal crash every 50 minutes in the United States. These statistics do not include crashes involving drug impairment. Based on current data, impaired driving crashes cost taxpayers billions of dollars every year.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 1,020 impaired driving crashes within the Commonwealth in 2017 that resulted in death or serious injury to one or more parties involved. And, although the number of impaired driving fatal crashes have dropped within the state from 2016 to 2017, the number of impaired driving incidents has continued to climb. Law enforcement officers across the Commonwealth made 53,578 impaired driving arrests in 2017 - an increase of 1,196 from 2016. More specifically, law enforcement officers across the Commonwealth made 3,657 impaired driving arrests in October of 2017, 26 of which involved juvenile operators.

C. Stephen Erni, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania DUI Association, expressed his concern: "Late autumn in Pennsylvania means cool, crisp weather, beautiful scenery and lots of people out and enjoying all the Commonwealth has to offer before winter sets in. Halloween entails parties, trick or treating and lots of children walking on our streets. We would ask all parents to make sure their children are visible with reflective clothing and sensible, safe costumes. The upward trend of DUI arrests is disturbing and creates additional concern this time of year with increased pedestrian traffic. We remind all motorists to drive carefully, being especially cautious during trick or treat hours and we stress the fact that impaired driving is never acceptable."

Law enforcement officers throughout Pennsylvania will be providing for the safety of trick or treaters and other pedestrians by means of increased patrols and other high visibility details. Adults attending parties and other functions are reminded to plan for alternative means of transportation if they're going to be drinking. Remember, impaired driving is impaired driving regardless of the cause of impairment and that driving impaired is never acceptable.

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